Research

Macro partitioning

Soybean protein supplementation provides superior or equivalent improvements in muscle mass, strength, and recovery compared to animal-based proteins (specifically whey), particularly in non-resistance or mixed training contexts, whereas pea and rice proteins show no unique anabolic advantage over whey.

If you are an athlete looking to build muscle or recover, soy protein is a highly effective alternative to whey, often matching or exceeding its benefits for strength and lean mass. Pea and rice proteins are also effective, performing similarly to whey, so you do not need to pay a premium for whey if you prefer plant-based options. Focus on total protein intake and training consistency rather than obsessing over the source, unless you have specific digestive sensitivities.

ModerateQualifiesMEDIUM confidence
According to the reviewed studies, the intake of soybean and potato proteins might provide better results than animal-based protein (excluding resistance training), whereas the consumption of pea and rice protein does not possess any unique anabolic properties over whey protein.
Kinga Kostrakiewicz-Gierałt · Nutrients · 2024

Why this rating

Based on a narrative review of patents and original articles (2014-2023), including RCTs, but lacking a single high-powered meta-analysis of direct head-to-head comparisons for all plant sources.

Source

Plant-Based Proteins, Peptides and Amino Acids in Food Products Dedicated for Sportspeople—A Narrative Review of the Literature

Kinga Kostrakiewicz-Gierałt · Nutrients · 2024

DOI 10.3390/nu16111706

narrative_reviewCited 14×
Read the paper
DOI resolved against Crossref · corpus check 2026-06-10

This is one finding among thousands. Every one is graded and traced to its source, so you can see what the evidence actually supports. Browse the research →